KOUBA V.
Abstract
The paper describes successful application of a new original method against foot-and-mouth disease panzootic wave based on extensive and very long double-barrier
combining belt without susceptible species animals with vaccinated zone under vast desert and steppe conditions. In 1964 Mongolian economy suffered catastrophic
losses due to foot-and-mouth disease rapidly spreading from eastern towards central territories affecting about 2 million animals in a territory of about 300,000 km2.
All the measures, such as aphtization (1.5 million animals), territorial isolations and quarantines were unable to stop this wave. On Mongolian request it was sent a Czechoslovak
veterinary expedition which elaborated a strategy, agreed and implemented by Mongolian authorities, of a double-barrier going from Chinese to Soviet borders. For the vaccination
it was used Czechoslovak vaccine which proved to be compatible with local virus strain. The width of strictly controlled belt without susceptible species animals was up to 80 km and
the vaccination belt width was of 100-300 km. Double-barrier of more than one thousand km length was adjusted to epizootiological situation. The aphtization was stopped and replaced
by the vaccination. From 790,000 vaccinated animals 448,000 were vaccinated by the expedition itself. After creating the barrier the disease wave was stopped and the foot-and-mouth
disease eradicated during several months.
Keywords:
anti-FMD measures, anti-FMD strategy, anti-FMD vaccination, anti-FMD barrier, aphtization, FMD panzootie, foot-and-mouth disease, Gobi desert, veterinary expedition.